Although Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant -- a committed Socialist recently elected to the council -- supports a $15 per hour minimum wage, she is reportedly opposed to the proposal put forward by Mayor Ed Murray, Truth Revolt reported Saturday. On Thursday, Murray announced a proposal to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 per hour, but Sawant says it's not good enough and demands that wages be immediately raised instead of implemented over four years.

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"I don’t support phasing-in for big business," she said in a statement posted at 15now.org, a website dedicated to raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. "McDonalds and Starbucks have no justification for keeping their workers in poverty for a day longer."

She also does not support the tip credit, claiming that "it (has) proven itself to be a cause of poverty for tipped workers in the 43 states it exists in" and overturns a 26-year-old measure approved by voters. She also says businesses should not get a credit for healthcare costs, claiming that business executives do not have to make the choices others do because of their wealth.

Sawant said she hopes her grassroots movement would continue to pressure the City Council to "correct the present recommendation" and called on supporters to "let the city council know we are watching." Additionally, she said a backup option is needed in case the council does not cave to her demands.

In early April, Truth Revolt's Ben Shapirodebated the issue with Sawant in Seattle. During the debate, Shapiro told Sawant that socialism is "the most selfish philosophy on planet Earth" and is ultimately based on force. Video of that debate can be seen above.

Truth Revolt also said Joshua Koritz, an assistant to Sawant, told Shapiro that his boss would consider a $35 minimum wage if it were on the table.

"Would she support a measure in the City of Seattle to raise minimum wage to $35 an hour?" Shapiro asked.

Sawant became the first Socialist elected to the City Council in modern times last November. After winning the election, she accused Boeing of engaging in "economic terrorism" and suggested workers take the factory over.

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Joe Newby is an IT professional who has been involved in conservative politics for years. In 1991, he ran for City Council in Riverside, California, and has served as a campaign manager for local conservatives in California and Idaho, including former Idaho State Representative Jeff Alltus. For a year, he hosted a local access cable talk show that covered conservative politics. He attended the University of Arkansas, Community College at Batesville where he graduated summa cum laude in 2005. He currently lives in north Idaho with his bride of 24 years and can be reached at ljnewby@peoplepc.com.

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